How to Do Iodine Deficiency Test (Instructions)

By Dr. Artour Rakhimov - Last updated on August 9, 2018

Warning. Many health-conscious people and Buteyko students use only
sea salt and do not use table salt (often at all). Since table salt is the MAJOR
source of iodine for most modern people, this (smart) use of sea salt can often
cause light, moderate or serious iodine deficiency. As a result, breathing gets
heavier and body O2 drops. These students often experience these common iodine
deficiency symptoms: increased fatigue, lethargy, sleepiness, mental depression,
increased appetite, decreased body temperatures and weight gain. Therefore, it is
important to know about and conduct a simple
iodine
deficiency test described here. It is also important to know how to solve
this challenge and provide the body with this crucial nutrient.

This page explains a version of the iodine deficiency
test that has been used by Soviet and
Russian medical professionals (family physicians, nurses, etc.) for many decades.
To conduct this simple test to check one's iodine deficiency, you need to get
or find any iodine solution (food-grade, for wound disinfection, etc.). This
can be 1, 2, or 5% iodine solution that sometimes can be found in pharmacies or
health food shops.

How to test for iodine deficiency state: Instructions

Soak a cotton swab or a piece of fabric in a small amount of iodine. Then paint
a net on any part of your body (an arm, trunk or leg), as it is. There is a
Western version of this iodine deficiency test that suggests
making an iodine patch (area) on the skin. The suggested-here version of the
test is little better since it is easier to see the iodine net on skin later
when it starts to fade away. It would be harder to notice a patch.

But otherwise, the criteria that reflect the link between time of
complete disappearance and body iodine state are the same for both versions
of the test.

The normal (expected) result is that the iodine net should be slightly
visible in about 24 hours after you made an iodine net on your skin.

If all iodine gets absorbed through the skin in less than 24 hours, you
are deficient in iodine. Sometimes, that can happen in less than 12 hours, and
this will indicate a serious or severe deficit.

It is also possible, but rare, that an iodine can remain on the skin 2 or
even 3 days later. This means that your body has too much (excessive) iodine.

Foods and other solutions to supplement iodine

The RDA (recommended daily amount) for iodine for adults is about 150
micrograms (mcg or µg). There are numerous studies that tested iodine safety at
much higher levels (up to 10-30 times, as in Japanese diet). Some of these studies
even observed health benefits from consumption of up to 3,000-6,000 mcg of
iodine per day.

While nearly all foods have some iodine, their concentration is generally
too small. Only seaweeds have really large amounts of dietary iodine. Note
that iodine content in seaweeds varies widely from about 15 up to 3,000 mcg (µg)
per one gram. Suchi nori often has the lowest content, but 2-3 suchi nori sheets
usually provide a sufficient amount. You can find seaweeds in health food stores.

Can I apply iodine solution on the skin and absorb it through the skin? Yes, it is
possible to absorb enough iodine via skin (cutaneously). Depending
on the concentration of your solution and other factors, a person may need a
certain area of skin covered with iodine. I tested this effect and you can
find details and one important safety tip related to this skin application
below here. This content is the bonus content that you can easily unlock.

In any case, it is smart to conduct the same iodine deficiency test some
days later to find out your new body iodine state. Those people who are uncertain about the results of this test can conduct the 3-day test described on the page devoted to mineral deficiencies: Main mineral deficiencies.